Antimicrobial carbon

Abstract

The present invention relates to antimicrobial carbon and to its use, especially for treating diseases and toxications of the gastrointestinal tracts, in particular diarrhoea.

1 . Antimicrobial carbon, obtainable by agitating a suspension and/or solution comprising carbon, preferably activated carbon and silver oxide as antimicrobial compound. 
   
   
       2 . Antimicrobial carbon according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the used activated carbon in the suspension and/or solution is medicinal carbon. 
   
   
       3 . Antimicrobial carbon according to  claims 1  or  2 , characterized in that the used activated carbon in the suspension and/or solution is based on coconut shell. 
   
   
       4 . Antimicrobial carbon according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the used silver oxide in the suspension and/or solution is substituted by silver halogenide, silver nitrate, silver sulfate, silver carboxylates, silver carbonate, silver citrate, copper oxides, copper sulfide, copper nitrate, copper carbonate, copper sulfate, copper halogenides, copper carboxylates, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, zinc silicate, zinc acetate, zinc chloride, zinc nitrate, zinc sulfate, zinc gluconate, zinc citrate, zinc phosphate, zinc propionate, zinc salicylate, zinc lactate, zinc oxalate, zinc iodate, zinc iodide or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       5 . Antimicrobial carbon according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the used amount of the antimicrobial compound in the suspension and/or solution is in the range of 0.001 to 10% by weight, preferably between 0.005 and 5% by weight, based on the activated carbon. 
   
   
       6 . Method for the preparation of antimicrobial carbon according to  claim 1 , comprising the agitation of a suspension and/or solution comprising carbon, preferably activated carbon and silver oxide as antimicrobial compound. 
   
   
       7 . Method according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the preparation is performed in water, ethanol, methanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol and/or mixtures thereof. 
   
   
       8 . Method according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the preparation temperature is between 10 and 60° C. 
   
   
       9 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the suspension and/or solution is agitated from 4 up to 24 hours. 
   
   
       10 . Method according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the silver oxide is substituted by silver halogenide, silver nitrate, silver sulfate, silver carboxylates, silver carbonate, silver citrate, copper oxides, copper sulfide, copper nitrate, copper carbonate, copper sulfate, copper halogenides, copper carboxylates, zinc oxide, zinc sulfide, zinc silicate, zinc acetate, zinc chloride, zinc nitrate, zinc sulfate, zinc gluconate, zinc citrate, zinc phosphate, zinc propionate, zinc salicylate, zinc lactate, zinc oxalate, zinc iodate, zinc iodide or combinations thereof. 
   
   
       11 . A method of using an antimicrobial carbon according to  claim 1  comprising employing said antimicrobial carbon as a preservative. 
   
   
       12 . A method of using an antimicrobial carbon according to  claim 1  comprising employing said antimicrobial carbon as a medicament. 
   
   
       13 . A method according to  claim 12 , characterized in that the medicament is used for the treatment of diarrhoea or as antidote. 
   
   
       14 . A method of using an antimicrobial carbon according to  claim 1  comprising manufacturing a medicament for the treatment of diarrhoea with said antimicrobial carbon. 
   
   
       15 . A pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition comprising antimicrobial carbon according to  claim 1  together with a pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable carrier. 
   
   
       16 . A pharmaceutical composition according to  claim 15 , characterized in that the pharmaceutical composition is used for oral application. 
   
   
       17 . A cosmetic composition according to  claim 15 , characterized in that the cosmetic composition is used for topical application. 
   
   
       18 . A pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition according to  claim 15 , characterised in that the amount of antimicrobial carbon is in the range between 0.1 to 99% by weight. 
   
   
       19 . Method for the preparation of a pharmaceutical or cosmetic composition according to  claim 15 , comprising the mixing of antimicrobial carbon with a pharmaceutically or cosmetically acceptable carrier.